Foot cushion adjustment mechanism

ABSTRACT

A foot cushion adjustment mechanism includes a base frame having a mounting portion, a cushion member having a through hole defining a first opening and a locating member disposed in the through hole, and an adjustment device having a body portion inserted through the locating member and a first end portion inserted through the first opening and pivotally coupled to the mounting portion. Biasing the adjustment device causes the cushion member to be moved linearly relative to the base member to adjust the distance between the cushion member and the base member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to foot cushion adjustment designs andmore particularly, to a foot cushion adjustment mechanism for use in anexercising machine that has a high structural stability.

2. Description of the Related Art

When using an exercising machine, it is necessary to keep the exercisingmachine in stability, avoiding machine vibration or tilting duringoperation and preventing any possible athletic injury. Therefore,exercising machines are commonly equipped with adjustable foot cushionsfor positioning on the floor. When placing an exercising machine on anuneven floor surface, the elevation of the foot cushions can be properlyadjusted to keep the exercising machine in horizontal, assuringapplication stability.

Commercial adjustable foot cushions generally comprise an adjustmentscrew and a rubber cushion block. When an adjustable foot cushion ofthis design is used in an exercising machine, the adjustment screw isfastened to the bottom side of the base member of the exercisingmachine, and the rubber cushion block is set between the adjustmentscrew and the floor. By means of rotating the adjustment screw relativeto the base member of the exercising machine, the elevation of the basemember of the exercising machine is relatively adjusted Simply using theadjustment screw to support the exercising machine is not structurallystable. An improvement in this regard is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a footcushion adjustment mechanism, which has a high structural stability.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a footcushion adjustment mechanism includes a base frame, a cushion member andan adjustment device. The base frame has a mounting portion. The cushionmember has a through hole defining a first opening, and a locatingmember disposed in the through hole. The adjustment device has a bodyportion inserted through the locating member, and a first end portioninserted through the first opening and pivotally coupled to the mountingportion. Biasing the adjustment device causes the cushion member to bemoved linearly relative to the base member to adjust the distancebetween the cushion member and the base member. By means of theadjustment device, the foot cushion adjustment mechanism distributes theweight of the load supported thereon through the cushion member,assuring structural stability.

Other and further benefits, advantages and features of the presentinvention will be understood by reference to the following specificationin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters denote like elements of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a foot cushion adjustment mechanism inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational assembly view of the foot cushion adjustmentmechanism in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the foot cushion adjustment mechanism inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the present invention, illustrating theelevation of the cushion member adjusted relative to the base member(I).

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the present invention, illustrating theelevation of the cushion member adjusted relative to the base member(II).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1˜3, a foot cushion adjustment mechanism 10 with theinvention is shown comprising a base member 20, a cushion member 30 andan adjustment device 40.

The base member 20 is used in any of a variety of exercising machines,such as treadmill, elliptical machine, standing bicycle, etc. to supporta machine body on the floor, having a mounting portion 22 and afastening member 24 at the top side of the mounting portion 22. Thefastening member 24 according to this embodiment is a socket having aninner thread.

The cushion member 30 according to this embodiment is shaped like arectangular prism. However, this configuration is not a limitation. Thecushion member 30 can also be made in a cylindrical or polygonal prism.As shown in FIGS. 3˜5, the cushion member 30 includes a through hole 32,a locating member 34 and a bottom cover 36. The through hole 32 cutthrough top and bottom sides of the cushion member 30, thereby forming afirst opening 301 and a second opening 302 on the top and bottom sidesof the cushion member 30 respectively. The locating member 34 fixedlymounted in the through hole 32 inside the cushion member 30. Accordingthis embodiment, the locating member 34 is a rectangular thin plate,having a size and shape approximately equal to the cross section of thethrough hole 32. Thus, the border edge of the locating member 34 can besecured to the inside wall of the cushion member 30. Further, as shownin FIG. 1, the locating member 34 has a hole 342 at the center. Thelocating member 34 further has an annular flange 344 extending aroundthe hole 342 in direction toward the second opening 302. The bottomcover 36 is made of a flexible material, for example, but not limitedto, rubber. Further, the bottom cover 36 is configured subject to theshape and size of the second opening 302 so that the bottom cover 36 canclose the bottom side of the cushion member 30.

The adjustment device 40 has a first end portion 401, a second endportion 402 and a body portion 403 connected between the first endportion 401 and the second end portion 402. The first end portion 401and body portion 403 of the adjustment device 40 are externallythreaded. The body portion 403 is inserted through the locating member34 and disposed in the hole 342 and the annular flange 344. A socket 42is mounted in between the body portion 403 and the annular flange 344.The first end portion 401 protrudes over the first opening 301 andinserted into the mounting portion 22 and threaded into the fasteningmember 24. Further, a nut 44 is threaded onto the first end portion 401toward the second opening 302 to lock the locating member 34 to bodyportion 403. The locating member 34 includes a plurality of, forexample, but not limited to, two guide rods 50 disposed at two sidesrelative to the hole 342. Each guide rod 50 has one end located on thelocating member 34, and the other end inserted through the mountingportion 22. Further, the guide rods 50 are arranged in a parallel mannerrelative to the adjustment device 40. Thus, rotating the adjustmentdevice 40 causes the cushion member 30 to be moved with the guide rods50 relative to the mounting portion 22.

Based on the aforesaid technical features, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG.5, the user can rotate the adjustment device 40 to move the cushionmember 30 linearly relative to the base member 20. Because the cushionmember 30 has a large surface area kept in contact with the floor, itachieves an excellent support effect. By means of the adjustment device40, the foot cushion adjustment mechanism 10 distributes the weight ofthe exercising machine through the cushion member 30, assuringstructural stability and achieving the objects of the invention.

Further, subject to the effect of the guide rods 50 to limit thedirection of movement of the cushion member 30, the cushion member 30 isprohibited from rotation when the adjustment device 40 is being rotated,assuring high stability. However, it is to be understood that thearrangement of the guide rods 50 to limit the direction of movement ofthe cushion member 30 is not the only way. Any other measures may beselectively used to limit the direction of movement of the cushionmember 30.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

1. A foot cushion adjustment mechanism, comprising: a base member havinga mounting portion; a cushion member comprising a through hole formingopposing first opening and second opening on said cushion member and alocating member disposed in said through hole; and an adjustment devicecomprising a first end portion and a body portion, said body portionbeing inserted through said locating member, said first end portionbeing inserted through said first opening and pivotally coupled to saidmounting portion such that biasing said adjustment device relative tosaid base member causes said cushion member to be moved relative to saidbase member to adjust the distance between said cushion member and saidbase member.
 2. The foot cushion adjustment mechanism as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a guide rod having one end thereof locatedon said locating member and an opposite end thereof inserted throughsaid mounting portion to guide movement of said cushion member relativeto said base member linearly.
 3. The foot cushion adjustment mechanismas claimed in claim 1, wherein said cushion member comprises a bottomcover covering said second opening.
 4. The foot cushion adjustmentmechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base member comprises afastening member located on said mounting portion; said first endportion of said adjustment device is inserted through said mountingportion and screw-connected with said fastening member.